154 



Several species of scale-insects also attack currant bushes. These 

 may be controlled by an application of lime and sulphur, about 1 part 

 of concentrate (33° Be.) to 10 or 12 parts of water, applied during the 

 dormant period. 



Feoggatt (W. W.). Poison Baits for White Ants. — Agric. Gaz. 

 N.S.W., Sydney, xxxi, no. 1, 2nd January 1920, p. 46. 

 The resistant properties of various Australian timbers in relation 

 to termites are not yet sufficiently known. A poison bait is recom- 

 mended consisting of 1 oz. arsenic to 1 lb. treacle, or sodium arsenite 

 might advantageously be substituted for the arsenic. This should 

 be dissolved in hot water and then mixed with the treacle. The bait 

 should be poured into the woodwork of floors or joists and percolates 

 through any damaged wood. A mixture of 1 oz. Paris green and 

 1 lb. pollards, brought to the consistency of putty by the addition 

 of a little sweetened water, has also been found useful. This should 

 be forced into any wood that it is not desired to remove. 



Froggatt (W. W.). Notes on the Apple Root Weevil {Leptops 

 hopei).^Agnc. Gaz. N.S.W., Sydney, xxxi, no, 1, 2nd January 

 1920, pp. 56-60, 7 figs. 



Observations are recorded on Leptops hopei (apple-root weevil), 

 which was studied in an infested orchard where the larvae were eating 

 away the bark from the main roots of apple trees and causing the roots 

 to rot. From the irregular development of larvae and pupae it 

 seems probable that there is an emergence of beetles towards the 

 end of summer as well as the main emergence in September and 

 October. Eggs were found early in November, when the beetles 

 were collecting on the tips of the highest branches of apple trees 

 and eating the foliage, and are deposited between the two gummed 

 surfaces of a folded leaf. Weevils enclosed on apple branches in 

 mosquito-net bags were found to deposit from 33 to 97 eggs in each 

 patch. These hatched in about a week. The young larvae, though 

 legless, are very active, and descend the trunk to the roots. When 

 mature they leave the apple roots and have been found pupating in 

 an earthern cell several inches away from the roots and over two 

 feet below the ground surface, whence the adults emerge and crawl 

 up the tree-trunk to the foliage. 



As the beetles are found to ascend the trunk from early September 

 until the end of November, it is suggested that an inverted funnel 

 or a frill of tin or stiff oiled paper over which they could not crawl 

 should be placed round the tree-trunk and examined every week 

 during this period for adults sheltering there. To capture the small 

 larvae as they descend the trunk a band of sticky paper could be 

 tied round it, well above the ground. If the beetles reach the leaves 

 the highest foliage should be sprayed with lead arsenate. 



Report on the Occurrence of Insect and Fungus Pests on Plants in 

 England and Wales, in the Year 1918.— M. Agric. & Fisheries 

 Intelligence Dept.^ Plant Disease Branch, London, Miscellaneous 

 Publications, no. 23, 1920, pp. 5-15 & 29-42. 



The pests damaging cereals include : A thrips, probably Limothrips 

 denticornis, Hal., or L. cerealium, Hal., which caused sterile spikelets 



